The federal government has dropped an indictment against a man accused of making a false bomb threat at LSU, which sparked an evacuation of more than 12 hours of the Baton Rouge campus in September.

William Bouvay Jr.East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office

U.S. Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux Jr. on Wednesday announced the dismissal of the indictment against William Bouvay Jr., 42, of Baton Rouge, who still faces a state charge of communication of false information of a planned bombing on school property. Cazayoux said a successful state prosecution would result in a considerably higher sentence, so the federal charge was dropped.

The state intends to charge Bouvay as a habitual offender. If convicted, he could get a mandatory minimum of 13 years, four months and a maximum sentence of 40 years. The federal charge carried a 10-year sentence.